If a district or intermediate district requests the superintendent to grant a waiver for the district or intermediate district from the requirements of section 1284b of the revised school code, MCL 380.1284b, that district or intermediate district shall use a portion of its funding under this article to conduct a public hearing to be held before the waiver is granted at a location within the district or intermediate district. The department may participate in a hearing held under this section at its discretion.